Psychology Careers
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Nationwide, a rising number of young Americans report poor mental health, according to a report by the Center for Disease Control. These worrying trends suggest a need for more psychologists and other mental health workers.
You do not need a Ph.D. to explore relevant and impactful careers in psychology. Even professionals with a bachelor’s can work in positions where they can positively impact people’s mental health and overall well-being.
Choosing the right career starts with earning a degree in psychology aligning with your interests and goals. Your college’s career and academic advisors can help you find the highest-paying jobs with a psychology degree.
Arts vs. Science Psychology Degree: What’s the Difference?
Your college may offer two options for a psychology major: a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS). BA and BS in psychology programs both feature a rigorous curriculum and take about four years to complete.
These degrees differ in many important ways, such as coursework. A BA in psychology features more electives and transferable skills, preparing you for a career right out of school. BA in psychology careers include social work, business, and journalism positions.
A BS in psychology emphasizes the academic skills learners need for graduate school. You develop research and analytical skills by tracking extra math and science classes. BS in psychology careers include postsecondary teacher and licensed psychologist.
Popular Online Psychology Degree Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
10 Types of Psychologists
Many psychology career paths exist due to the field’s different specializations, and a degree in psychology can prepare you for graduate school, where you can further specialize your training. Professionals with a Ph.D. or Psy.D. can work exclusively with adults, children, incarcerated individuals, athletes, or families. Medical school graduates can specialize in psychiatry and prescribe medication to patients with mental health conditions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the need for psychologists to grow by 6% between 2022-2032, somewhat faster than its average projected growth rate for all U.S. careers. However, the BLS’ growth projections for some specialties exceed that of others. College students wanting to enter a rapidly growing field should consider specializing in clinical psychology.
Many jobs for psychology majors feature a median salary exceeding $75,000, but qualifying for one of these jobs takes many years of education and training beyond a bachelor’s. Geographic location and employer also affect how much psychologists make.
| Jobs | Description | Minimum Degree Required | Median Salary (July 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | Psychiatrists evaluate, treat, and prescribe medication to patients with mental health conditions. | MD | $242,000 |
| Neuropsychologist | Neuropsychologists study how the brain’s physical structures affect behavior. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $106,000 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | I/O psychologists work as consultants to improve business and human resources outcomes through studying workplace psychology. | Master’s | $100,000 |
| Clinical Psychologist | Clinical psychologists treat patients one-on-one or in small groups. They can also work as professors and researchers. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $92,000 |
| Psychology Professor | Psychology professors teach and mentor students at undergraduate and graduate levels. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $90,000 |
| Forensic Psychologist | Forensic psychologists conduct psychological evaluations for those in the criminal justice system. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $80,000 |
| Sports Psychologist | Sports psychologists help athletes perform better by addressing their mental health needs. | Master’s | $80,000 |
| Counseling Psychologist | Counseling psychologists help patients with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. They can also conduct research and teach at universities. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $74,000 |
| Educational Psychologist | Educational psychologists help students identify and overcome mental health challenges that are connected with learning differences. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $69,000 |
| School Psychologist | School psychologists conduct assessments to help K-12 students receive the learning resources they need. They also make sure students receive appropriate mental health services. | Ph.D. or Psy.D. | $69,000 |
5 High-Paying Jobs With a Psychology Degree
The five highest-paying careers in psychology require at least a Ph.D., licensure, and many years of supervised experience.
Psychiatrist
Like other physicians, psychiatrists hold a four-year medical degree and license. They learn psychology best practices in medical school and residency. Like psychologists, they can open a private practice and treat patients in one-on-one and small group settings. They can also conduct research and teach at universities. A bachelor’s in psychology can help prepare you for this career as long as you also complete your pre-med requirements.
The main difference between psychologists and psychiatrists concerns their approach to treatment. Psychologists use talk and behavioral therapy to help patients. Psychiatrists use the medical model to diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe the medication that patients need to get better.
Neuropsychologist
Neuropsychologists explore how brain processes affect behavior and cognition. They treat patients with Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, and other disorders affecting brain function. Other responsibilities include evaluating patients’ intellect, language skills, and personality.
Neuropsychologists can often work at the VA, rehab centers, community clinics, or hospital settings. These careers with a psychology degree require a Ph.D., a license, and supervised work experience.
The median salary for neuropsychologists exceeds $100,000, according to Payscale. Experienced neuropsychology professionals can make more than $125,000 per year.
I/O Psychologist
I/O psychologists examine human psychology in the workplace. Their findings help managers and human resources departments develop effective recruitment and retention strategies. Ph.D. programs in I/O psychology emphasize group theory, consumer behavior, and individual assessment.
Reasons to pursue a Ph.D. in I/O psychology include the ability to work in business. Companies and organizations need I/O psychologists to identify development needs, mentor employees, and analyze consumer needs. You can also use your education to teach at the college level.
Engineering Psychologist
Engineering psychologists analyze how people use and interact with technology and machines. Their input makes consumer, medical, and technical devices user friendly. They also make products safer, more effective, and more psychologically pleasing to consumers.
Engineering psychologists can explore many positions in the public and private sectors. Their responsibilities include collaborating with designers, managers, and other professionals.
Engineering psychologists earn an average salary of $65,620, according to ZipRecruiter. Some positions pay more than $100,000 per year.
Health Psychologist
Health psychologists use their doctoral education and training to determine how biology and the environment impact mental health. Their work motivates patients to make positive health decisions, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. They also research the psychology best practices necessary to help patients deal with chronic illness.
Jobs you can get with a Ph.D. in health psychology include private practice and hospital psychologist. Professionals in the latter treat patients undergoing rehabilitation or treatment for severe disease.
9 Other Career Paths for Psychology Majors
Jobs you can get with a psychology degree exist in and outside the healthcare field. Working in business, education, or law may better align with your personality and career goals.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Psychologists with a Ph.D. can pursue career opportunities in applied behavior analysis. These professionals treat patients with a mental disability or behavior disorder. Applied behavioral analysts work in many settings, such as hospitals, counseling centers, and schools.
Successful applied behavior analysts need compassion and patience when working with clients, some of whom may initially resist treatment. Mastering these and other soft skills helps you build productive relationships with patients and improve patient outcomes.
Business
Successful businesses apply human psychology when designing new products and services, creating advertisements, and negotiating with clients. Understanding how and why people make decisions gives business professionals an advantage over their competition. A psychology degree can prepare you for an entry-level marketing or business communication career.
Consider complementing your psychology degree with a second major or minor in business. You may need an advanced degree, such as an MBA, to qualify for top positions in your chosen industry.
Education
A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in psychology can prepare you for a career in education. Bachelor’s graduates who complete teacher education can work as licensed K-12 educators. Professionals with a master’s may also explore these positions and work as a community college teacher.
Graduates with a Ph.D. can apply to different types of psychology education jobs, such as tenure-track professor at a four-year college or university. Postsecondary teachers mentor students and perform original research in their field.
Healthcare
With a BA in psychology, you can work in a group home or as a psychiatric technician. You can also work as a rehabilitation counselor to help those with addictions.
If you want to continue your studies, you can go on to earn a master’s, doctorate, or even a medical degree. Doctors with an interest in psychology can specialize in psychiatry or another field.
No matter the specialization you select, knowledge of psychology can help you interact better with patients, their families, and coworkers. Building a good relationship with these and other stakeholders can improve patient outcomes.
Law
A background in psychology can prepare you to work as a police officer, lawyer, or paralegal. These and other law professions require an understanding of people’s motivations and mental health conditions. A bachelor’s or master’s in psychology helps you in these roles, as law professionals gather facts, analyze evidence, and write legal documents.
Some law careers require a three-year law degree, like lawyers. Fortunately, the BLS projects the need for lawyers to grow by 8% between 2022-2032. This career path features many specializations, such as environmental, family, and intellectual property law.
Mental Health
The mental health field features jobs for psychology majors that include counselor and art therapist. Workers in these and other roles help clients identify the root causes of their mental health conditions. They also refer clients to psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals.
The BLS projects the need for marriage and family therapists to grow by 15% between 2022-2032. More than half of these therapists work in family services or health practitioner offices.
UX Research
Also known as user experience research, UX research involves designing products and services meeting users’ needs. Responsibilities include solving problems discovered during the design process. They also interview consumers and perform observational studies.
A degree in psychology helps you develop the analytical and research skills necessary to analyze consumers’ needs and behaviors. Popular careers for UX researchers include market research analyst. These analysts research consumer trends and preferences.
Social Work
Social workers with a bachelor’s in psychology can apply to entry-level positions or an MSW program. Social workers identify people and communities’ needs, recommend services, and monitor clients’ progress. Many states require a master’s for licensure.
Like other psychology career paths, you can specialize in social work: You can work with children and families, K-12 students, people with addictions, or other groups. These professionals earn a median salary of $58,380, according to the BLS.
Statistics
Master’s and Ph.D. programs emphasize statistical analysis and other research methodologies. Coursework in these topics can prepare you for a statistics-related career, such as an actuary. Actuaries analyze data to determine the likelihood and costs of potential events.
The BLS projects the need for actuaries to grow by 23% between 2022 and 2032. Major employers include finance and insurance companies, technical services industries, and government agencies. Psychology majors interested in this career should consider double majoring in statistics or actuarial science.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Careers
The answer depends on your psychology career path. The BLS projects strong growth for some jobs, such as psychologists and actuaries, but changing economic conditions may make these jobs less in demand by the time you finish school.
Start exploring in-demand careers in psychology soon after starting an undergraduate or graduate program. Trained advisors can help you research positions and their requirements.
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